Topic: How I store and display my loose collection...

[MandoMuggle]

This might be an option if you want to avoid plastic bags, but is probably only affordable if you have 100 action figures or so...

That's a very inventive way to store SW figs!

[Tamer]

Looks like a great way to stay organized.

[Darth More]

Here are some of my latest additions to the collection on display. Still haven't gotten to modifying those cabinets, but I enjoy this view every time I sit at my diner table. Maybe some day we'll see that LEGO Mandalorian's Forge with the Armorer by Hasbro as well...glad we got Merrick's X-Wing now and the latest TVC sets and figures just blow my mind! What a time to be a Star Wars fan and collector...

[Tamer]

Very nice. I haven't been able to get that X-Wing myself!

[Darth More]

Base Plates for your action figures - 1/18 & 1/12 scale!


Back in the days I had some Warhammer miniatures, which I painted. Some of my friends got way more into them and play tabletop games 'til today. But I could never see me GLUE my action figures on those base plates. As you might know, I wouldn't put my action figures on Hasbro's or any other common action figure stand with pegs. Because I don't want the pin to widen the figure's peg holes.
So far I had always displayed my action figures without any additional support - even if they kept falling.

But as you know: some action figures are in desperate need of a stand.
So after a little brain storming I came up with this idea: instead of 3D printing my own base plates with foot clips, like those from M.O.T.U., I looked for some miniature base plates.

The only question left was, how I'd connect the figures to the base? Then I remembered when my younger sister made some jewelry out of rubber bands back when it was hyped about 6 years ago.
And luckily you can still get those LOOM bands. So I went to my local toy store and got a couple bags of bands 200 for 1€. I wish I could support this store with a higher margin.

I'm going to experiment a little with those base plates. After 30 seconds of drilling and tooling I got a display stand ready to go!

Hasbro haven't given us display stands for our action figures since 2012!
Especially fans of The Black Series have pleased Hasbro for such stands since its inception back in 2013. And I don't count that one time we got one with that exclusive Imperial Stormtrooper!

I ordered 80 of those base plates which fit for 3.75" figures. They arrived within 2 weeks for 21.14€ shipped so I paid 26 cents each plus 1 cent for two rubber bands.


Those oval base plates measure 6 x 3.5 cm and ship from China as low as 24 cents each.
Here's the link: https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4000781972810.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000060.1.12c93ae2k8aaqT&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.274681.0&scm_id=1007.13339.274681.0&scm-url=1007.13339.274681.0&pvid=bb4464d0-699d-414c-9758-cd9c834c6cb8&_t=gps-id%3ApcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller%2Cscm-url%3A1007.13339.274681.0%2Cpvid%3Abb4464d0-699d-414c-9758-cd9c834c6cb8%2Ctpp_buckets%3A668%232846%238112%231997&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2210000007793828767%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%223339%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21EUR%21%217.54%21%21%21%21%21%400b0a23a516527915535152185e14af%2110000007793828767%21rec&gatewayAdapt=glo2deu

For The Black Series 6" figures I'm going to order the big ones with the dimensions of 9 x 5.2 cm.





You can see where I got all materials for this project here.


Making of...


The great thing about it is that it only needs 2 things: a base plate and a rubber band. Drilling and pulling the rubber band through the holes - done! I used the toothpicks to hold the lashes in place. It also makes it much easier to pull the rubber band over the figure's feet!




The position of the lashes can be chosen individually with the hand drill. The oval shape of this base plate works perfectly for an action pose of Ahsoka.


Forum member FialaFernbrugg made this round base plate out of high quality wood. To me those are the signature self-made base plates, but since I don't have the right saws to make those, I had to find an alternative.

I shared those articulated action figure stand earlier, which are also available on ebay.
You can support this forum by using these affiliate links:

Links:

Thanks for coming by!

[Tamer]

What a great way to make some cheap and awesome bases. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Off to the front pages.

[Darth More]

Thanks, Tamer. The great thing about it is that it only needs 2 things: a base plate and a rubber band. Drilling and pulling the rubber band through the holes - done! I used the toothpicks to hold the lashes in place. It also makes it much easier to pull the rubber band over the figure's feet!

Here are some links:

100 round base plates with 50 mm diameter: https://www.ebay.com/itm/224316209563?var=523108693823&hash=item343a49b99b:g:OhMAAOSwAnJgAGIV


600 black loom bands for $5.99 shipped from CA: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184591987500?hash=item2afa8a332c:g:t6gAAOSwP4Nf4noK&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4CZSr2cUv%2FrinHHImHLXT8hfoRqRt91XwnaIzIIUw9XaZoM39yTryHrgVOjHW%2BKhPMh12jRk%2FrGYPUt%2BC2BmIAOa6D0w5075%2FIJCZjZ3OU%2FJRwwWgZg7KdRMv20emeg4AL8rcZovFKUWRYhNhiGz70pxmg2Ul%2BS5Awic6ipF91g7ICFTe4TWP1rL9jNGgTTeJGvgcB8HPtM69j0t1M7fxZn1%2Bh%2BVlQ312yx7xAZ9J%2BTajJUs7KChaWeNc29bMdComHg8MY9r%2FnsD4UTW9IfMPl%2BtVSRvJQtZPr7SOnVPmMDO%7Ctkp%3ABFBM0NmU7Zpg

Hand Drill: https://www.ebay.com/itm/402633032599?hash=item5dbecc8397:g:rdsAAOSwgsJf8ygd

Tweezers: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=tweezers&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=rubber+band+black+diy&_osacat=0

[JDeck]

Great idea! I normally use those clear plastic disk stands. However some figures, specifically the Scarif Troopers, the foot holes are too small. Something like this will work great. Especially when you have a platoon of scarif troopers there's no way you can set them up without stands. One falls over they all go down.

[Starchaser]

That's a really excellent strategy for stands. Very clever and cost effective. Thanks so much for sharing Philipp.

[Darth More]

JDeck: Yeah, I got a few of those clear base plates when I bought used figures at my local comic shop or sometimes I got them with a lot from ebay.
I found those clear plates here:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003796571638.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000013.1.4b0b3ed79lwNBG&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.274681.0&scm_id=1007.13339.274681.0&scm-url=1007.13339.274681.0&pvid=99e47fca-021a-46c6-b6b9-9e0558e930fa&_t=gps-id:pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller,scm-url:1007.13339.274681.0,pvid:99e47fca-021a-46c6-b6b9-9e0558e930fa,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238112%231997&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000027195982471%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%223339%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21EUR%21%215.57%21%21%21%21%21%40211b4cfe16528631787418317e1705%2112000027195982471%21rec

But they're only 25 mm in diameter and would require to drill one hole to put a piece of a cotton swab in as a peg like FialaFernbrugg does with his stands.
I might try that one too, but as I said, I want to avoid pins and prefer the rubber bands, which don't work on flat bottoms.
Yeah, we all know the drama of falling figures way too well, right? My Black Series figures like doing that over night.


Starchaser: Thank you for commenting! I thought this might be helpful.
I ordered a second batch of bases in different sizes a couple days ago. Cannot wait to share this for 6" figures, I'm sure TBS collectors will like that idea, too.
It's a shame that Hasbro just don't take that money on the table there...

[FialaFernbrugg]

I think you should patent this idea. This is the perfect display stand for action figures.
The figure is not damaged and the display stand is independent of the hole diameter and hole depth in the foot.
The oval shape looks very good and is also space-saving. All in all, the perfect solution.
Excellent work my friend.

[Darth More]

Thank you so much for your nice words, Christoph! They really mean a lot to me. I haven't even thought about the problem of the different pegs out there, because they never were an option to me.
Now, that I read your comment, I remember that there are base plates with long and thin pegs for modern figures since TPM and thicker ones for the POTF figures.
I'm especially looking forward to receiving the bigger bases to arrive in about 10 days to try this concept for the 6" figures. Creating small dioramas on those bases will also be fun!
I'll keep you updated with more pictures, soon!
Thanks for coming by my friend and I'm always thankful for this hand drill you gave me!

[Darth More]

These display stands will save your nerves as they saved mine!

The bigger bases for 6 inch figures arrived on Monday and I cannot tell how much I like them. Some of my The Black Series figures kept falling no matter what. Especially Ahsoka Tano always made me worry to break her lightsabers. Also General Grievous was crtizised to not have peg holes...
So here's my solution:



I bent a needle to use the wire as hook. That made it much easier to pull the rubber-bands through the 2 mm holes.








Tamer, this picture is dedicated to you:





Other display stands available:


Which ones do you like best? Let us know in the comments below!

[Tamer]

These work great! I also like the fact that it is hard to see the bands around the foot too. Just a nice way to get some display stands for not much money. Great job Philipp. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Time for the front pages.

[Mosh]

I would suggest... just use silicone. It adheres itself quickly to a lot of surfaces, has enough strength to make for some action poses, can be detached from your figure easily and without damaging the plastic. You don't need specific bases for your figures, since you can stick them to almost anywhere.
BTW, this confrontation will end very swiftly.